WINNING THROUGH CHRIST

“We Win!” Based on 1 Corinthians 15:57 — “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” — this cry echoes through the halls and in the chapel services of Christ the King Lutheran School as the theme for the 2015-16 school year. As an avid runner, athletic director, and coach, faculty member Kyle Lawrence identifies strongly with this simple yet action-packed statement. Years of training, discipline, and practice have proven beneficial to meeting his goals of fitness and endurance, and to “winning” in areas of faith, family, and career. 
Christ the King’s 6th grade homeroom teacher, Athletic Director, Physical Education teacher, and track coach, Kyle applies this “We Win!” enthusiasm to his teaching and coaching at CTK. Kyle leads his students to realize that even if they sin or fail in the classroom, Jesus guides their every step and ultimately they have won the victory in Christ. With a desire to see his students succeed, Kyle takes every opportunity to challenge them, giving them more freedom in the classroom by providing venues for them to take learning into their own hands for interactive, student-led learning. He delights in the cultural diversity at CTK; as he noted one day last fall:
“I have never been happier to be where I am than today. In a class of 17, I have 7 African American children, 7 Caucasian, and 3 Asian American children. It was inspiring to watch them work together seamlessly, unified in a common mission. Thank you Jesus for this calling I have and for choosing me to have this group.”
With a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Speech Communication from Concordia University, Wisconsin, Kyle began his teaching career in Cookeville, TN, at Heavenly Host Lutheran School, and then accepted a teaching/coaching position at Christ the King, Memphis, in 2011. He and his wife Beth have four-year-old twins — Oliver and Lucy — and love the many cultural, educational, and sports-related activities that the area has to offer (Go, Grizzlies!). Kyle strives to teach his children to “love living.” He wants them to know with assurance that “even though tough times are a part of life, they will be able to love life as the awesome gift that it is and live fully in Christ Jesus.”
Serving at Christ the King is more than a job for Kyle; it is a true calling and passion. He revels in the “light-bulb” moments — whether it be academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually — when it all comes together for students and they realize exactly what they are capable of in that realm. His teacher and mentor, Dr. Richard Schnake, taught him the value of life-long learning as both his 8th grade teacher and his college professor. Kyle has completed the SLED Project (LCMS School Leadership Development), designed to train future administrators, and continues to grow as a teacher while aiming toward one day becoming more involved in school administration.
The Lawrence family has been a blessing to CTK’s church family as well. His principal, Mr. Tom Geyer, offered: “As Christians, we know that our faith in Jesus Christ is personal, but not private. I have seen Kyle and his wife, Beth, build relationships with school families who have no identified church home, and, through conversations and fellowship with these families, they have introduced Jesus and His church to several young families by being authentic people. I’m very proud of Kyle’s and Beth’s commitment to Jesus and their desire for other families to be connected to Jesus too.” Kyle enjoys the warm pastor-staff relationship that is prevalent at Christ the King, and the many people who love and care for their twins.
Christ the King is truly “winning” with teachers like Kyle Lawrence, who give their all for their students and their Lord, pressing onward to reach the goal of eternal life in Christ. “We Win!” We have our victory in Jesus!